Minutes from now, when President Barack Obama delivers a major speech on immigration reform in El Paso, Jackson Lee will be in a prominent position. Perry will be in Austin.

A former ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, Jackson Lee said she is “pleased to be invited.”

This afternoon, Obama will call for “fixing the broken immigration system,” according to administration officials.

The president will reiterate his call for bipartisan support on comprehensive immigration reform that would restore “responsibility and accountability to the immigration system.” He also plans to cite statistics that bolster his contention that the U.S.-Mexico border is safer than ever and that the federal government is taking steps to counter illegal immigration.

Jackson Lee said she will be working with Obama’s administration and other members of congress to move comprehensive immigration reform forward.

“It is time now that we combine border security of our Northern and Southern borders with reasonable and rational comprehensive immigration reform that provides access to citizenship,” she said.